Estradiol Gel Effectiveness

[Charlotte F]

I've been on HRT now for 10 weeks.  After 8 weeks I had achieved good results using patches and my bloods were extremely encouraging.  Unfortunately, I was finding patches more and more difficult to get along with - falling off during sports or causing reactions with my skin

My doctor changed me to gel which I really liked the idea of.  Apparently I am on an equivalent dose of gel to the patches I had used previously

In the first 8 weeks of HRT (using patches), I had noticed some good changes especially to a significant reduction in frequency of unwanted erections.  Now though, in the last two weeks (using gel), I have noticed their frequency is increasing again.  I know hormones do take a while to do their thing and for levels to stabilise in the body but should I be concerned that the prescription is not working as well as the patches before?  I assumed that switching from one type of administration of a drug to another wouldn't really have any impact.  I'm not due to have the levels checked again for a while which is worrying me a little

I also wonder if maybe applying the gel to some parts of the body is more effective in aiding delivery than others.  The instructions just suggest shoulder, arm or inner thigh but that's about as much information as I have found

Have any of you girls had any experience with gel?

[Tammy Jade]

I am on gel.

I am on a very low dose and it seems to be working ok for me.

Iv been on it coming up 8 weeks and have just started to notice buds and spontaneous erections are a thing of the past it would seem.


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[Tammy Jade]

I am on gel.

I am on a very low dose and it seems to be working ok for me.

Iv been on it coming up 8 weeks and have just started to notice buds and spontaneous erections are a thing of the past it would seem.


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Actually I went and checked the date.
It's 2 days short of 10 weeks.


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[Charlie Nicki]

Are you on androgen blockers? If I'm not mistaken, those are the ones that will kill your erections, not estrogen.

[rmaddy]

Basically, it's easy to get good estrogen levels and all available forms will potentially get you there.  Pick your poison, as they say.  I prefer shots, but gels, standard tabs, patches, etc are all viable strategies.

[Tammy Jade]

Are you on androgen blockers? If I'm not mistaken, those are the ones that will kill your erections, not estrogen.

Nicky is correct it my be your blockers that is the issue.

When I was on blockers only my Endo had to up the dosage of my  blockers a couple of times and I also ended up needing both Spiro and Androcur to get my T levels down..



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[Charlotte F]

Thanks for the replies girls

Are you on androgen blockers? If I'm not mistaken, those are the ones that will kill your erections, not estrogen.

I'm on Finasteride as an AA which I was sceptical about initially but with the patches did seem to work.  My levels were:

Estradiol 1380 pmol/L (376pg/ml)
Testosterone 3.38 nmol/L (0.974 ng/ml)

When I was on blockers only my Endo had to up the dosage of my  blockers a couple of times and I also ended up needing both Spiro and Androcur to get my T levels down..

As I understand things, Estradiol naturally works as an AA when the levels are right.  As I am still using the same dose of Finasteride, it feels as if the gel maybe isn't working as effectively and so testosterone levels are changing.  Of course this is just how it feels and still being new to HRT, it's difficult to know if feelings should stay relatively constant (libido, aggression, sense of calm, frequency or erections, etc) or if these will fluctuate

[KayXo]

Your current dose of gel may be weaker, yes. You need to discuss the possibility of raising your dose with your doctor. I've been using Estrogel for the last 7 months and have good results. I apply it mostly to arms, more inner than outer and chest (including breasts), abs/flanks, occasionally to inner thigh/behind the knee and buttocks. I also apply a small amount around my vulva. My doctor knows about me applying it to the breasts and vulva. As far as breasts go, she also agrees with me that there is no evidence/supporting studies pointing to this increasing the risk of breast cancer. If vulval application doesn't bother me and burn, she says "do it". She wrote a book on female hormones.

I use a higher dose than what is typical for menopausal women. You need to apply gel thinly (not rub it in) to as large an area as possible if you are using Estrogel as this maximises absorption, as per the monograph.

[Charlotte F]

I use a higher dose than what is typical for menopausal women. You need to apply gel thinly (not rub it in) to as large an area as possible if you are using Estrogel as this maximises absorption, as per the monograph.

Thanks Kay.  After a load of research I am convinced the dose is not high enough.  It's tricky to work out what the equivalent dose is of course as the absorption rate seems to be different and the figures quoted by the manufacturers make it tricky to compare the two types of delivery system.  From what I've gathered though from reading a lot of comments by menopausal women, it seems like I might be as low as half the previous dose

I think I've been rubbing the gel in too much rather than applying a thin film like you suggested.  I guess that has probably further reduced the effectiveness

I'm waiting to speak with my doctor, so will see what she says but today I went back to a patch to get me through until she can give her thoughts.  Two weeks of effectively detransitioning has really taken its toll - I definitely feel & look like I'm going through puberty again and definitely not in a good way